Ireland’s Rolland to referee Six Nations opener

ALAIN ROLLAND will help kick-off the 2011 RBS Six NationsChampionship when he referees the opening day clash between Wales and England at the Millennium Stadium on February 4.

The Irishman, who refereed the World Cup final in 2007, will be in charge of the only Friday game of the championship, but will also officiate at the Scottish/Italian game on March 19 in round five.

He is just one of four referees toget a double Six Nations appointment, joining New Zealand’s Bryce Lawrence, Frenchman Roman Poite and England’s Wayne Barnes.

Poite won’t be remembered with too much affection by Munster skipper Paul O’Connell, who has bristled at many of his decisions in the past.

But if the big second row makes it back from injury then he will have to again contend with the French whistler in the game against Italy at Stadio Flaminio on February 12.

Ireland will have Dave Pearson (England) and Nigel Owens (Wales), Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) and Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) in charge for the respective fixtures against France, Scotland, Wales and England.

The appointments were made by the IRB Match Official Selection Committee in Dublin this week following a comprehensive review of international referee, assistant referee and television match official performances during the November Tests.

With the World Cup in New Zealand less than 10 months away, the appointments will give the world’s top referees a further chance to cement their place in the IRB Panel for rugby’s global showcase tournament.

The selection also sees Steve Walsh take charge of his first Six Nations match since 2008 when he referees England versus France at Twickenham on February 26.

“We are beginning the countdown towards Rugby World Cup 2011 and a streamlined panel of 10 top referees who will officiate at the tournament,” said committee chair David Pickering.

“However, there are still 10 months to go until the showcase tournament kicks off and there is plenty of time for places to be secured. We have worked hard on consistency across the board and referees and coaches have universally bought into the strict application of five key areas of law.”

Round One: Feb 4: Wales v England, Millennium Stadium, 7.45 pm (A. Rolland, Irl); Feb 5: Italy v Ireland, Stadio Flaminio, 2.30 pm (R Poite, Fra), France v Scotland, Stade de France, 5 pm (W Barnes, Eng).

Round Two: Feb 12: England v Italy, Twickenham, 2.30 pm (C Joubert, South Africa), Scotland v Wales, Murrayfield, 5 pm (G Clancy, Irl); Feb 13: Ireland v France, Aviva Stadium, 3 pm (D Pearson, Eng).

Round Three: Feb 26: Italy v Wales, Stadio Flaminio, 2.30 pm (W. Barnes, Eng), England v France, Twickenham 5 pm (S Walsh, New Zealand); Feb 27: Scotland v Ireland, Murrayfield, 3 pm (N Owens, Wal).

Round Four: March 12: Italy v France, Stadio Flaminio, 2.30 pm (B Lawrence, New Zealand), Wales v Ireland, Millennium Stadium (J Kaplan, South Africa); March 13: England v Scotland, Twickenham, 3 pm, (R. Poite, Fra).

Round Five: March 19: Scotland v Italy, Murrayfield, 2.30 pm (A Rolland, Irl), Ireland v England, Aviva Stadium, 5 pm (B Lawrence, New Zealand), France v Wales, Stade de France, 7.45 pm (C Joubert, South Africa).